Scotland’s charging system ‘in chaos’

March 23, 2005 in Adults, Disability

Visually impaired people in Scotland are having to pay for basic
equipment because of councils’ confusing charging policies and
ignorance among professionals, a report by the Royal National
Institute of the Blind Scotland has revealed.

The report found that one in four Scottish councils expect clients
to buy their own large-buttoned phones and safety tin-openers,
while one in 12 expect them to buy their own white sticks.

Billy Watson, director of RNIB Scotland, said: “Present
arrangements for supplying and paying for essential equipment are
chaotic and incomprehensible to many professionals.”

He said the RNIB was calling for the Scottish executive to draw up
a list of equipment councils must provide free.